SEQ Level 2 in Teaching Swimming to Early Years

July 16, 2026

Launching 1 October 2026

The SEQ Level 2 in Teaching Swimming to Early Years is an exciting entry route into the aquatics profession, designed for those seeking to become qualified Early Years Swimming Teachers. This comprehensive qualification equips you with the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to independently plan, deliver, and evaluate safe, engaging, and inclusive swimming lessons for babies, toddlers, and pre-school children.

Whether you are new to teaching swimming or looking to start a rewarding career working with young children and families, this qualification provides the specialist training needed to create positive aquatic experiences that foster confidence, development, and lifelong participation in swimming.

Why choose this qualification?

pecialist early years pathway – gain the knowledge and practical skills to teach babies, toddlers and pre-school children as a qualified Early Years Swimming Teacher.
Parent-and-child teaching – learn how to work with and support parents and carers as active partners in a child’s aquatic learning and development.
Safe and professional practice – develop the confidence to deliver safe, inclusive and developmentally appropriate swimming lessons that promote water confidence and progression.
Flexible learning – achieve a nationally recognised qualification in just 46 total qualification hours, including 35 guided learning hours.

What you’ll learn

By the end of the qualification, you will be able to:

Develop the confidence to independently plan, deliver and evaluate swimming lessons for babies, toddlers and pre-school children.
Gain the specialist knowledge and practical skills needed to teach in parent-and-child and early years aquatic environments.
Understand child development and how it influences learning, participation and progression in the water.
Support and educate parents and carers as active partners in a child’s aquatic journey.
Deliver safe, inclusive and developmentally appropriate swimming lessons.
Build the skills to manage risk, safeguarding and participant welfare in early years aquatic settings.
Create progressive aquatic experiences that prepare children for independent learn-to-swim programmes.
Achieve a recognised qualification that provides a pathway into employment as an Early Years Swimming Teacher.

Qualification Time

46 Total Qualification Hours (TQT)
35 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)

Entry Requirements

To enrol on this qualification, learners must:

Be at least 16 years of age on the first day of the course.

No previous swimming teaching qualification is required.

Assessment

Assessment consists of:

A 40-question multiple-choice assessment.
One Scheme of Work.
Three lesson plans covering babies, toddlers, and pre-school children.
Observation of four practical teaching sessions in a real-world environment.
Self-evaluation.
Personal Action Plan.

This qualification is graded Pass/Fail.

Next Steps

Once qualified, your next step could be to progress to:

Begin your journey towards a rewarding career in aquatics and help shape positive aquatic experiences for the next generation.